Sundance Film Forward is a touring program which introduces a new generation of audiences to the power of story through the exhibition of film and conversations with filmmakers to create greater cultural awareness.

Shorts Tour

Showcasing a wide variety of story and style, the Sundance Film Festival Short Film Tour is a 95-minute theatrical program of eight short films from the 2016 edition of the January Festival

Utah Community Events

Programs for Utah audiences to experience independent film, theatre, and music through free screenings and discussions.

Imagine being an undiscovered artist with a groundbreaking story to tell but no means to tell it. For many such artists, Sundance Institute funds one-of-a-kind labs that enable them to work on new projects for up to a month at a time, with intensive one-on-one mentoring from expert advisors as they create the next wave of independent film and theatre.

We believe that a story driven by an authentic voice can awaken new ideas, push creative boundaries, and spark new levels of empathy and understanding. That's why we're intensely committed to cultivating artists as they develop new stories. The Institute has supported such seminal works as critically acclaimed features Fruitvale Station, Beasts of the Southern Wild, and Reservoir Dogs; Academy Award–nominated documentaries Cartel Land and The Act of Killing; and Tony Award–winning plays Fun Home and Spring Awakening.

This Month's Benefits

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Don’t miss out on your perks!
To receive notifications about the pre-sale and all other membership benefits, you must agree to receive emails from us. Don’t miss out on your perks! Take a moment to update your email preferences and make sure you’re not missing out.

Note: Opting out of these emails will cause you to lose access to notifications about our Festival ticket pre-sale, invitations to members-only events, and more.

Membership Pass and Package Pre-Sale - (Supporter & Storyteller level)
The membership pass and package pre-sale will be held on Thursday, October 12, 2017 from noon to 8:00 p.m. MT. You will receive an email on the morning of the 12th with a link to access the sale. The member pre-sale is online only, for eight hours, and is first-come, first-served until sold out. Purchases may only be made by current members. Learn more

Get Creative Insights from our Storyteller Tips
Check out our Storyteller Tips newsletter, which is filled with insights from artists on their journeys to tell a compelling story.

Join the Movie Club
Movie Club makes suggestions on Sundance films to watch. Invite your friends over to watch a film, eat popcorn, and drink a glass of wine while you talk through the discussion topics provided by the Institute programming team. It’s a great way to introduce yourself or friends to Sundance movies you may not have seen, and with our new comment section, you can join the conversation directly with our programmers.

It’s Here: The 2017 Short Film Collection
The 2017 Sundance Film Festival Shorts Collection is now available—exclusively for members. Curated specifically for you by our shorts programmers, this collection brings some of our Festival favorites right into your home.

Final Draft Discount
Take advantage of our members-only Final Draft discounts—either on the full software, an upgrade, or the student version.

Submitting a Film to the Festival?
If you’re thinking of submitting a film for the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and you meet all of the requirements, contact us for your 50% fee waiver code.

Membership Levels and Benefits

Become a Sundance Institute Member and join a community of like-minded individuals who believe in the power of great art. Free from commercial and political pressures, the Institute is able to support the screenwriters, directors, composers, and theatre artists whose work makes our world a more informed, inspired, and human place. We provide storytellers with the tools to refine their artistic process and help present their stories to audiences worldwide. Want to be part of it? Join Sundance Institute today.

As a Sundance Institute Member, you’ll receive special benefits, discounts and premiums we’ve put together just for you. Your membership ensures that the Sundance Institute will continue to enrich our culture and change the world - one story at a time.

Sundance Institute provides storytellers with the tools to refine their artistic process and help present their stories to audiences worldwide.

Indie $65

Indie Enthusiast $65for audiences

YEAR-ROUND BENEFITS

Monthly Movie Club newsletter

Ever wonder why a certain film was chosen for the Festival? The Sundance Movie Club gives you an inside look into what made these films official Sundance selections. Get movie recommendations from our programming team every month, and download our guide for ideas on hosting your own movie club with friends.

Invitations to screenings (CA, UT, NY)

Members receive invitations to special word-of-mouth screenings throughout the year.

Bi-annual collection of short films from the Sundance Film Festival

Enjoy two collections of shorts from the most recent Sundance Film Festival, selected for you by Sundance short film programmers.

Direct from Sundance (NY, CA)

We’re offering Sundance Institute members a unique opportunity to learn more about the year-round work we do to help artists bring their stories to life. These events take place after the Festival and are by invitation only to our members.

FESTIVAL BENEFITS

20% off all Sundance Film Festival merchandise

Inside look into the Sundance Film Festival

Invitation for you and a guest to attend private membership screenings at the Sundance Film Festival

8-hour pre-sale of individual tickets to the Sundance Film Festival

Get access to an 8-hour pre-sale of tickets to the Sundance Film Festival before the locals’ and public individual ticket sales begin in January. Each member may purchase up to 20 total tickets, including up to four per screening. Please be aware that even during the pre-sale some films may be sold out, with no tickets available. This is more common during the first half of the Festival, which will be January 18–23 for the 2018 Festival.

Extended! You must be a member by January 5th, 2018. If you join after this date, you may not receive the link for the member pre-sale on January 9th.

Indie Creative $65for artists & producers

YEAR-ROUND BENEFITS

Monthly Movie Club newsletter

Ever wonder why a certain film was chosen for the Festival? The Sundance Movie Club gives you an inside look into what made these films official Sundance selections. Get movie recommendations from our programming team every month, and download our guide for ideas on hosting your own movie club with friends.

Quarterly Storyteller Tips newsletter

Writing your first feature film? Making your first VR project? Our Storyteller Tips newsletter will give you insights from Sundance alumni and staff to help guide your project forward.

Invitations to screenings (CA, UT, NY)

Members receive invitations to special word-of-mouth screenings throughout the year.

Direct from Sundance (NY, CA)

We’re offering Sundance Institute members a unique opportunity to learn more about the year-round work we do to help artists bring their stories to life. These events take place after the Festival and are by invitation only to our members.

Opportunity to attend national Sundance Institute events, including Artist Services events, Theatre Program plays, and Feature Film Program screenplay readings

One waived application fee for a Sundance Institute Lab (during a year-long membership)

(Please contact membership@sundance.org for more information.) Members who are interested in applying for a Sundance lab or submitting a film for the Festival, please know that you must choose one or the other, but cannot receive a waived/discounted fee for both.

FESTIVAL BENEFITS

50% off one submission fee for the Sundance Film Festival (during a year-long membership)

(Please contact membership@sundance.org for more information.) Members who are interested in applying for a Sundance lab or submitting a film for the Festival, please know that you must choose one or the other, but cannot receive a waived/discounted fee for both.

20% off all Sundance Film Festival merchandise

Inside look into the Sundance Film Festival

Invitation for you and a guest to attend private membership screenings at the Sundance Film Festival

8-hour pre-sale of individual tickets to the Sundance Film Festival

Get access to an 8-hour pre-sale of tickets to the Sundance Film Festival before the locals’ and public individual ticket sales begin in January. Each member may purchase up to 20 total tickets, including up to four per screening. Please be aware that even during the pre-sale some films may be sold out, with no tickets available. This is more common during the first half of the Festival, which will be January 18–23 for the 2018 Festival.

Extended! You must be a member by January 5th, 2018. If you join after this date, you may not receive the link for the member pre-sale on January 9th.

Members who are interested in applying for a Sundance Lab or submitting a film for the festival please know that you must choose one or the other, but cannot receive a waived/discounted fee for both.

Members at the Supporter level get access to all Indie Creative and Indie Enthusiast benefits plus all of the following.

FESTIVAL BENEFITS

Festival credential

Your credential provides access to Festival venues including Music Café and New Frontier.

Pass and package pre-sale

Members have exclusive access to an 8-hour pre-sale of passes and packages to the Sundance Film Festival, even before the public sale begins. Purchase limits are the same as in the public sale. Please be aware that the membership pre-sale has been given a specific allocation of passes and packages. Some may sell out during the membership sale and may be available again during the public sale. This may be likely for the 10-ticket package for the first half of the Festival, which will be January 18–23 for the 2018 Festival.

Members at the Storyteller level get access to all Supporter benefits plus all of the following.

YEAR-ROUND BENEFITS

Invitation to VIP Sundance Institute events outside of the Festival

FESTIVAL BENEFITS

Festival credential

Your credential provides access to Festival venues including Music Café and New Frontier.

Ability to purchase one ticket package outside of the public sale, with a priority time slot for film selection ahead of the general public

Members have access to purchase a 20-ticket package for either the first or second half of the Sundance Film Festival. This 20-ticket package is exclusive to Sundance Institute’s membership programs and can no longer be purchased in the public sale.

Cocktails with Cooper is a Festival preview event series that gives you insider recommendations on must-see films from Festival Director John Cooper and our senior programmers (events take place in December in Los Angeles, Park City, and New York).

Sundance Institute Members present their membership cards at the box office or concession stand to receive discounts at participating Art House Project and Alamo Drafthouse theatre locations. Members also receive two free movie tickets to Landmark Theatres and Sundance Cinemas.

Please Note: Theatre discounts are available on regularly scheduled screenings only, not including special events or online sales.

Sundance Movie club

Love your book club? Now you can join a movie club!

Each month, the Sundance Movie Club selects two to four films from past Sundance Film Festivals or labs and provides you with unique insight into how they became Sundance-laureled films—including curated articles and videos as well as a set of questions to think about while watching the films. Invite your friends over to watch with you, and start your own dialog around the stories that shape our cultural perspectives.

Become a member at any level to join the conversation.

Collaborators

Sundance Institute Membership would like to acknowledge all of its Collaborators:

Festival Member Benefits FAQ

How can I access the member pre-sale?
The member pre-sale is online only and will be held on October 12 from noon to 8:00 p.m. MT. A link to the sale will be emailed to all members on the morning of the 12th. Passes and packages may be purchased by current members only; all purchases will be verified. Purchases by nonmembers will be refunded. If you purchase a membership after the sale begins, you will receive the link to the sale in your confirmation email.

Am I unsubscribed?
Last year, some members did not receive the link to the sale because they were unsubscribed from Sundance emails. If you recently signed up as a member, we asked you to agree to receive emails. If you have not recently renewed or joined, and you have not received membership emails regarding your benefits, please contact the membership office and ask us how to update your email preferences.

Can I purchase an Ignite package for my child(ren)?
Members may purchase an Ignite package for their child(ren) ages 18–25. Please contact membership@sundance.org so we can facilitate the charge for Ignite packages separately.

What can I do if a pass or package sells out?
Please be aware that the membership pre-sale has been given a specific allocation of passes and packages, and they are first-come, first-served until sold out. If an item sells out during the membership sale, it may be available again during the public sale. This may be likely for the 10-ticket package for the first half of the Festival, which will be January 18–23 for the 2018 Festival.

Is there a limit to how many passes and packages I can buy?
Each member is limited to a total of one of each ticket package (for example, you may purchase one First Half, one Second Half, and one Salt Lake City Ticket Package, but you may not purchase two of the same package type). For passes, there is a limit of two per specific type of pass. Apart from these limits, there are no limits on the total amount of different passes or ticket packages you can buy.

Can I buy locals packages and passes during the member pre-sale?
The Locals 10 Ticket Package, the Locals Salt Lake City Pass, and the Utah Student 10 Ticket Package will not be available during the member pre-sale; these will be sold only during the locals sale on October 16. However, the Grand Pass and the Salt Lake City Only 10 Ticket Package will be available during the member pre-sale.

Can I also participate in the locals and public sales?
Members who are Utah locals may participate in the locals sale on October 16, and all members may also participate in the public sale beginning October 18. During these sales, you will not be allowed to purchase additional passes or packages of the same type that you have already purchased previously, but you may try for a package that you were not able to purchase during the member pre-sale.

Can Storyteller members purchase additional items during the member and public sales after already purchasing privately through the Membership Office?
For Storyteller members interested in purchasing additional packages or passes in the membership pre-sale or public sale, please be aware that you will not be able to purchase an additional ticket package for the same half of the Festival as the one you purchased through the Membership Office.

Do I get priority access to choose my films?
Unfortunately, we are not able to offer priority access to film selection for ticket packages bought during the membership pre-sale. In December, you will receive information about how to log in to choose your films. Film selection usually occurs the first week of January.

How can I participate in the special sale for Chase Sapphire cardholders?
Chase is offering their Sapphire cardholders the ability to purchase a 10-ticket package through their sale. Chase will be reaching out to their clients directly, beginning with preferred cardholders. The package costs $600 and is good for the entire 10 days of the Festival. It also comes with two credentials and two awards party tickets.

Membership Individual Ticket pre-sale - AVAILABLE TO ALL MEMBERS/ALL LEVELS

How can I access the member pre-sale for individual tickets?
The member individual ticket pre-sale is online only and will be held on January 9 for 8 hours ONLY (noon to 8:00 p.m. MT); a link to the sale will be emailed to you the morning of the 9th.

Is there a limit to how many tickets I can purchase?
Each member can purchase up to 20 total tickets, including up to four per screening. Please be aware that even during the pre-sale some films may be sold out, with no tickets available. This is more common for screenings during the first half of the Festival, which will be January 18–23 for the 2018 Festival.

When do I need to join?Extended! You must be a member by January 5th, 2017. If you join after this date, you may not receive the link for the member pre-sale on January 9th. Nonmember purchases will be refunded.

Other questions that have been asked

How can I participate in the special sale for Chase Sapphire cardholders?
Chase is offering their Sapphire cardholders the ability to purchase a 10 Ticket Package. Chase will be reaching out to their clients directly, beginning with preferred cardholders. The package costs $600 and is good for the entire 10 days of the Festival. It also comes with two credentials and two awards party tickets. On sale dates TBA.

I’m a Sundance Circle member do I get to participate in the pre-sales?
The membership pre-sales are only for Sundance Institute members. We suggest you contact the Sundance Circle office for your exclusive pass and package purchase opportunities and if you have any additional questions.

Membership Benefits at the Festival

When and where will member screenings be held?
We will hold two member screenings during the 2018 Festival. Below are details on each:

To RSVP, please reply to the email invite sent on Wednesday, January 17th. If you do not or have not received the invite, email membership@sundance.org. Tickets will be distributed at the theatre, 45 minutes before each screening, on a first come, first served basis.

Can I bring a guest?
Yes, members will be allowed to bring a guest. If you would like to bring more than one guest, please contact membership@sundance.org. We will accommodate additional people as space provides.

Can I attend more than one screening?
Yes, members can RSVP to both screenings.

How do I get my tickets to attend?
You can retrieve your tickets starting at 45 minutes before each screening. Tickets are distributed on a first come, first served basis and you must RSVP in order to receive a ticket.

How do I take advantage of my 20% member discount during the Festival?
During the Festival, please be sure to bring your digital member card included in your member welcome email. If you do not have your digital member card, please email membership@sundance.org for an alternative option.

How do I participate in members-only ticket giveaways during the Festival?
From January 17th through January 26th, we'll be giving away 10 pairs of tickets to each of the screenings below:

Member giveaways will occur daily, so be sure to look for updates on our @sundancefestnow Twitter page!

Instructions:

The day before each screening is scheduled, we'll post a tweet on our @sundancefestnow Twitter page. Once you see the tweet, send an email to membership@sundance.org with your name and the title of the film. Winners will be randomly selected and notified via email at 4 PM MT that day.

Once you receive your email confirmation, visit the Member Desk at the Pass and Package Office (Gateway Business Center, 136 Heber Ave.) to claim your tickets.

You must be a member at the time of each giveaway in order to participate.

Where do members (Supporter and Storyteller level) retrieve their complimentary general credential for the Festival?
All Supporter and Storyteller level members are entitled to one complimentary general credential for access to non-theatre venues. Member credentials can be picked up at the Membership Desk in the Pass and Package Office (Gateway Business Center, 2nd Floor, 136 Heber Ave., Park City, UT 84060). We officially open on Thursday, January 18th and throughout the Festival, our hours are 8 AM to 7 PM MT.

How can I contact the Membership Desk during the Festival?
The Membership Desk can be contacted via email at membership@sundance.org. Please note that due to heavy traffic, there may be a delay in responding, but we will get through all emails as quickly as possible.

You can also visit the Membership Desk in the Pass and Package Office (Gateway Business Center, 2nd Floor, 136 Heber Ave., Park City, UT 84060). We officially open on Thursday, January 18th and throughout the Festival, our hours are 8 AM to 7 PM MT.

Member Festival Events

How do I attend the member events before and during the Festival?
Members will receive an invitation to RSVP to all events for their membership level.

Inside Look at Sundance Institute—Join staff from the Feature Film Program, Documentary Film Program, Native Program, and others to discuss the year-round work we do to support artists, and learn about the films we supported that made it to the Festival and beyond.

Festival Sneak Preview: Cocktails with Cooper—All Storyteller members are invited to attend Sundance Circle’s premier pre-Festival event that gives an inside look into the Festival films before film selection in January. Festival Sneak Preview: Cocktails with Cooper is held in the beginning of December in Los Angeles, Park City, and New York.

Sundance Circle events—Storyteller members can attend select Sundance Circle events during the Festival. Invitations will be sent to qualifying members closer to the Festival.